Profi-cartridge apparatus and methods of use thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention comprises an apparatus and/or a method of use thereof for dispensing whipped cream, comprising: a profi including a pressure containment housing, a first receiving port integrated into the pressure containment housing, a dispensing port integrated into the pressure containment housing, and at least a first pressure cartridge containing at least a liquid form of nitrous oxide, where the pressure cartridge includes a pressure gas delivery port and where a connection between the receiving port and the pressure gas delivery port form: (1) a section of a pressure containment unit encompassing contents of the pressure containment housing and the pressure cartridge and (2) an open path between the pressure containment housing and the pressure cartridge.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is:

-   -   a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.        17/825,968 filed May 26, 2022, which is a divisional of U.S.        patent application Ser. No. 16/999,061 filed Aug. 21, 2020,        which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application no.        15/125,434 filed Sep. 12, 2016, which is a national stage        application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 and claims priority to        international application no. PCT/US2016/050919, filed Sep. 9,        2016, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent        application No. 62/217,463 filed Sep. 11, 2015; and    -   is related to U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/953,160        filed Mar. 14, 2014 and U.S. provisional patent application No.        62/052,376 filed Sep. 18, 2014,    -   all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety by this        reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a profi-cartridge apparatus and methods of usethereof.

Discussion of the Prior Art

Nitrous oxide, which is also known as dinitrogen monoxide, N₂O, and/or“laughing gas” and colloquially known as nitrous is classified by theUnited Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change as a potentgreenhouse gas with a global warming potential over three hundred timesthat of carbon dioxide, CO2.

Nitrous oxide is the fourth most common greenhouse gas, behind watervapor, carbon dioxide, and methane.

Nitrous oxide is persistent in the atmosphere, with an average lifetimeof one hundred twenty years, and reacts destructively with protectiveozone in the stratosphere, which results in a reduction in ultravioletlight absorbance and a greater percentage of harmful incidentultraviolet light from the sun reaching the planet's surface. It followsthat a reduction in the emission of nitrous oxide has significantpositive long-term benefits to life and materials/structures on earth.Hence, compositions with a smaller percentage of nitrous oxide and/ormethods used to reduce nitrous oxide emissions, such as in foodpreparation, are beneficial.

Nitrous oxide is commonly used to make whipped topping, such as awhipped cream. Whipped cream is used as an element of various fooditems, such as beverages, crepes, pancakes, and/or desserts. Anestimated 500 million eight-gram nitrous oxide gas cartridges are usedworldwide annually, resulting in the release of over four million metrictons of nitrous oxide, which has a global warming impact equivalent to1.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide.

In addition, nitrous oxide, is a substance of abuse that is easy toobtain and difficult to detect. Huffing of nitrous oxide to achieve ananalgesic, which is often referred to as a narcotic high, has become anabuse problem.

What is needed is a safe approach to making and/or dispensing productfrom a pressurized container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention comprises a pressurized nitrous oxide cartridge apparatusand method of manufacture or use thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention is derived byreferring to the detailed description and described embodiments whenconsidered in connection with the following illustrative figures. In thefollowing figures, like reference numbers refer to similar elements andsteps throughout the figures.

FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B illustrate a method of use of a pressurizedcontainer and whipped cream dispenser, respectively;

FIG. 2 illustrates assembly and use of a profi or reusable pressurevessel;

FIG. 3 illustrates a whipped cream canister;

FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B, and FIG. 4C illustrate a pressure filled containercontaining one, two, and three gases, respectively;

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate a pressurized container in twoorientations;

FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B illustrate profis;

FIG. 7 illustrates a pressurized cartridge;

FIG. 8 illustrates a phase change of nitrous oxide; and

FIG. 9 illustrates a nitrous oxide phase diagram.

Elements and steps in the figures are illustrated for simplicity andclarity and have not necessarily been rendered according to anyparticular sequence. For example, steps that are performed concurrentlyor in a different order are illustrated in the figures to help improveunderstanding of embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The invention comprises an apparatus and/or a method of use thereof fordispensing whipped cream, comprising: a profi including a pressurecontainment housing, a first receiving port integrated into the pressurecontainment housing, a dispensing port integrated into the pressurecontainment housing, and a first pressure cartridge containing at leasta liquid form of nitrous oxide, where the pressure cartridge includes apressure gas delivery port and where a connection between the receivingport and the pressure gas delivery port form: (1) a section of apressure containment unit encompassing contents of the pressurecontainment housing and the pressure cartridge and (2) an open pathbetween the pressure containment housing and the pressure cartridge.

This disclosure provides compositions of nitrous oxide mixtures, andmethods for using the same, including in food preparation to generateaerated food products and/or aerated compositions.

Generally, the generated compositions reduce the amount of nitrous oxiderequired versus traditional methods using pure nitrous oxide. Forexample, the compositions reduce the amount of nitrous oxide used toprepare an equivalent amount of aerated food product, while retainingaeration and at least one of and preferably all of volume, flavor, andan aroma profile. The mixtures and methods reduce the amount of nitrousoxide emissions generated in the preparation of various products.

Herein, a z-axis is aligned with gravity, where an x-axis and a y-axisform a plane perpendicular to the z-axis.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a method of dispensing a product 100 from apressurized container is illustrated. Generally, the method ofdispensing a product 100 comprises the steps of providing a pressurizedand product constituent filled container 110 and a step of dispensingcontents 120 from the pressurized container.

Herein, without loss of generality and for clarity of presentation, foodproducts and whipped cream are used as non-limiting examples of productsdispensed by the taught apparatus and methods of use thereof. Again, forclarity of presentation and without loss of generality, examples areused for preparation, storage, and/or dispersion of the nitrous oxidemixtures, with particular examples to whipped cream. However, moregenerally, the invention relates to preparation, storage, and/ordispersion of any composition containing nitrous oxide and/or a secondgas, such as a noble gas, from a pressurized container.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, the method of dispensing a product 100 isillustrated where steps include: providing a pressurized gas and creamfilled canister 130 and depressing an applicator mechanism, such as atrigger or button, to dispense the product 140.

Referring now to FIG. 1B, FIG. 2 , and FIG. 3 , a whipped cream canister300 is distinguished from a profi 600. For example, the U.S. Departmentof Transportation (DOT) carefully regulates the pressure of shippedcanisters, such as a whipped cream canister 300, such as purchased at agrocery store to contain a maximum pressure of 200 pounds per squareinch (psi). Indeed, whipped cream canisters sold in grocery stores aregoverned by special permits limiting the canisters to 150 psi prior toleaving a production facility. Further, whipped cream is dispensed fromthe whipped cream canister 300 until one or more of the cream and thenitrous oxide in the whipped cream canister 300 is depleted. The whippedcream canister 300 is not refillable. In stark contrast, the profi 600comprises a container containing, at initial dispensation of a product,a pressure in excess of 200 psi, such as above 200, 300, 500, 700, 740,750, 760, 775, 1000, or 2000 psi. The profi 600 is optionally andpreferably refillable, such as with cream 225 and the use of aremoveable/replaceable pressurized cartridge 700. Optionally andpreferably, the profi 600 is refilled and/or repressurized by anindividual outside of a manufacturing facility, such as at a coffeeshop, restaurant, or a personal residence.

Referring again to FIG. 2 , a method of use of a profi 200 isillustrated. The method of use of a profi 600 includes one or more ofthe steps of: providing a profi 210, supplying a cream/lipid 220,filling the profi 230, such as with the cream 225, pressurizing theprofi 250, and dispensing the whipped cream 260, or other product.Optionally and preferably, the method of use of the profi 200 includesone or more of the steps of: providing a pressurized cartridge 240and/or repressurizing an already used cartridge 270 and using thepressure cartridge 700 in the step of pressurizing the profi 250. Statedagain, a profi 600 is optionally charged with a new or refilled pressurecartridge 700. The pressure cartridge 700 is further described, infra.

A whipped cream canister 300 contains a maximum pressure of 200 psi andis a single use item, until one or more of the nitrous oxide and/orcream is dispensed. In stark contrast, a profi 600 uses a pressurecartridge 700 to charge the profi 600 with a gas containing nitrousoxide, where the pressure cartridge 700 and/or the profi is reusable.The pressure cartridge 700 includes an outer pressure wall 710 thatcontains an internal, typically pressurized, volume. The pressurecartridge optionally and preferably contains a pressure gas deliveryport that connects to receiving/charging port of the profi 700. Thepressure gas delivery port is optionally opened when charging the profiin either a temporary, permanent, or resealable manner, such as with avalve and/or a pressure regulator.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , the whipped cream canister 300 is furtherdescribed. The whipped cream canister includes a low pressurecontainment housing 310 and an interface 320 to an applicator tip 322.The low pressure containment housing 310 contains a gas volume, such asnitrous oxide 352, at a maximum pressure of 200 psi and a liquid volume340, which included the cream 225. To dispense whipped cream 262 fromthe whipped cream canister 300, the interface 320 is temporarily opened,which allows the internal nitrous oxide 352 to dispense along with thecream 225. The sudden change in pressure from an internal pressurewithin the low pressure containment housing to a still lower atmosphericpressure causes dispensed nitrous oxide to expand, which expands thecream 225 into a form of whipped cream 262.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 (A-C), constituents 400 of the low pressurewhipped cream canister 300 and/or the profi 600 are described. Forclarity of presentation and without loss of generality, as illustrated,the constituents 400 are contained in the low pressure containmenthousing 310. However, the constituents are optionally contained, in ahigh pressure containment housing 610 of the profi 600. In reference tothe description of FIGS. 4 (A-C), the term housing is used to refer toboth the low pressure containment housing 310 of the whipped creamcanister 300 and the high pressure containment housing 610 of the profi600. Herein, the clause canister/cartridge refers to the whipped creamcanister 300, the high pressure containment housing 610, and/or thepressure cartridge 700 used to charge the profi 600.

Pressurized Housing Gases

Referring now to FIG. 4A, a first case of a single gas, such as nitrousoxide 352, and cream 225 in the housing is illustrated. In this firstcase, the constituents 400 in the housing include: a gas volume 330 anda liquid volume 340. The gas volume 300 contains nitrous oxide 352. Theliquid volume 340 contains the cream 225 and nitrous oxide 352 dissolvedin the cream 225. In this first case, nitrous oxide is at least 95, 96,97, 98, 99, 99.5, and/or 99.9 percent of the gas in the housing. Thebalance of the gas is outgassing from the cream and/or impurities, inthe nitrous oxide and/or ambient air, making their way into the housingin a manufacturing step.

Referring now to FIG. 4B, a second case of two gases, such as nitrousoxide 352 as a first gas and a second gas, along with cream in thehousing is illustrated. In this second case, the constituents 400 in thehousing still include: a gas volume 330 and optionally a liquid volume340. The gas volume 330 includes a first gas, such as nitrous oxide, anda second gas intentionally introduced into the housing, not anaccidental inclusion of atmospheric gas, during a pressurization of thehousing step. For example, the first gas and the second gas areintentionally used to charge the whipped cream canister 300 at amanufacturer or the first gas and the second gas are intentionallyintroduced in the profi pressurization step 250, described supra. Thefirst gas is optionally and preferably nitrous oxide 352. The second gasis ambient air, such as air in the earth's atmosphere, hydrogen, helium,nitrogen, carbon dioxide, neon, argon, krypton, or xenon. A preferredsecond gas is argon. Relative partial pressures, volumes, mol content,and/or concentrations of the first gas and second gas are furtherdescribed, infra. In this second case, environmental air is notintentionally introduced into the housing, but may make up an impurityof up to 3, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.1, or 0.01 percent by volume and/or bymass.

Still referring to FIG. 4B, the two gases introduced into the housingare further described in terms of the presence of the cream 225. Forclarity of presentation and without loss of generality, the first gas inthis example is nitrous oxide 352 and the second gas is a noble gas,such as argon 354. Nitrous oxide 352 is soluble in fats and/or lipids,such as are present in the cream 225. Argon 354 is relatively insolublein the cream 225. Thus, as illustrated, the concentration of nitrousoxide 352 falls in the gas volume 330 above the cream 225 while theargon 354 remains in high concentration in the gas volume 330/headspaceof the container. As a result, inhalant abuse or huffing of the nitrousoxide through dispensing the gases from the housing in an uprightposition, a proper inverted position is used to dispense whipped cream,is ineffective for a high as the nitrous oxide concentration in theheadspace is diminished as the nitrous oxide resides in the cream 225.Discussion of the percentage of nitrous oxide in the headspace and creamare provided, infra. In this second example, the pressurized argon 354functions to eject the cream 225 and dissolved nitrous oxide when thehousing is used in a proper inverted orientation, where the liquidvolume 340 covers an entrance to a delivery port, such as a dispensingport. In FIG. 6A, further described infra, the dispensing port 660 isfurther described.

In FIG. 3 , the dispensing port of the whipped cream canister 300 is thean exit through which the cream 225 passes during use to atmosphere,such as through the interface 320 and the applicator tip 322.

Referring now to FIG. 4C, three gases are optionally introduced into thehousing, canister, and/or cartridge. For clarity of presentation andwithout loss of generality, in this example the first gas is nitrousoxide 352, the second gas is argon 354, and the third gas is nitrogen356, though any gases are optionally used. As illustrated, the nitrousoxide permeates/dissolves into the cream 225/liquid volume 340/liquidphase while the argon 354 and the nitrogen 356 remain primarily in theheadspace/gas volume 330. Further, the analgesic effect of nitrous oxidefollows a logarithmic scale, thus reducing nitrous oxide in theheadspace above the cream is significantly amplified when it comes toreduction in the analgesic effect for the huffer. As a result, ifhuffed, the huffer is huffing the non-high inducing gases of argon 354and nitrogen 356, while if the canister/cartridge is properly inverted,the whipped cream is dispensed as the product is intended. Generally,any number n of gases are introduced into the canister/cartridge/profi,where n is a positive integer, such as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or more.Optionally and preferably, the concentration of each gas is greater than0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 2, or 3 percent. Generally, a preferredconcentration of each gas exceeds the concentration of that gas in theearth's atmosphere as adjusted for pressure. Stated again, generally thesecond, third, fourth, . . . , n^(th) gas is present at a concentrationabove atmospheric air compressed to the pressure in the canister,cartridge, and/or low pressure containment housing 310 of the whippedcream canister 130, the high pressure containment housing 610, and/orthe profi 600. Hence, the concentration of each gas in thecanister/cartridge exceeds a concentration obtained through theaccidental inclusion of atmospheric air in themanufacturing/pressurization/charging process, such as in the step ofproviding a pressurized gas and cream filled canister 130 and/or thestep of pressurizing the profi 250.

Optionally, the filled canister 130 is a sealed can/soda can/beveragecan, such as dispensed from a vending machine, which is opened by theuser just prior to drinking a contained beverage. For instance, the actof opening the sealed can uses a pop top or a lid that is removed byunscrewing a cap. Generally, the sealed can is packaged using any of the1, 2, 3, or more gases, described supra, in combination with thebeverage, where the 1, 2, 3, or more gases are optionally and preferablydissolved into the beverage at time of production and form a headspace,such as in equilibrium with the beverage prior to the user opening thesealed can.

Atmospheric and Compressed Atmosphere Concentration of Gases

This section details maximum atmospheric gas concentrationsintentionally and/or accidently introduced as an impurity into thecanister/cartridge.

The Earth's atmosphere is at one atmosphere (atm) pressure. Atmosphereis optionally placed in the low pressure containment housing 310 of thewhipped cream canister 130 or the high pressure containment housing 610of the profi 600 as an impurity and/or is intentionally used as one ofthe one or more pressurizing gases. In any case, the maximum amount ofany environmental air constituent is a multiple of the environmental airconcentration, where the multiple is the maximum pressure in atmospheresin the housing at time of filling. A relationship of housing pressure toatmospheres is provided in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Canister and Cartridge Pressures Housing Type Condition psi atmCanister Initial Filling Pressure 175 11.9 Canister Maximum Pressure*200 13.6 Cartridge N₂O phase change minus 25 psi 725 49 Cartridge N₂Ophase change 750 51 Cartridge N₂O phase change plus 25 psi 775 53Cartridge Optional Filling Pressure 1,000 68 Cartridge Optional FillingPressure 2,000 136 *as allowed by the U.S. Department of Transportation

It follows, that the maximum concentration of a component of theatmosphere in the whipped cream canister 130 or high pressurecontainment housing 610 is the atmospheric concentration times theinitial atmospheric pressure of the whipped cream canister 130 or highpressure containment housing 610.

The Earth's atmosphere contains many components. The concentration ofselected gases in the Earth's atmosphere is provided in Table 2 alongwith the maximum pressure of the component at 200 psi or 13.6 atm, thehighest pressure of the whipped cream canister 300 allowed to be shippedby the U.S. Department of Transportation. For instance, the highestpossible pressure of xenon in the whipped cream canister 130 bycompressing atmospheric air into the canister is 1.18 ppm (0.087ppm*13.6) at 200 psi or 13.6 atm, the highest pressure allowed by theU.S. Department of Transportation. Thus, a concentration of greater than1.18 ppm xenon in the whipped cream canister 13.6 means that themanufacturer had to purposely add xenon to the canister, where the addedgas containing xenon has a xenon concentration higher than naturallyoccurring xenon concentration in air/atmosphere. Like calculationsreveal if the compressed gas used to fill the whipped cream canister 130or profi 600 exceeds concentrations found in earth's atmosphere.

TABLE 2 Atmospheric and Compressed Atmospheric Gas Concentrations.Atmospheric Atmospheric Concentration at Concentration Concentration13.6 atm Gas (Percent) (ppm) (ppm) Nitrogen 78.084 780,790 10,618,744Oxygen 20.946 209,445 2,848,452 Argon 0.934 9,339 127,010.4 CarbonDioxide 0.041 404 5,490 Neon 0.0018 18.21 247 Helium 0.00052 5.24 71.3Krypton 0.0001 1.14 15.5 Hydrogen 0.00005 0.5 6.8 Methane 0.000187 0.56.8 Xenon 0.0000087 0.087 1.18

Several examples are provided as to the contents of thecartridge/canister and/or the profi 600.

Example I

Referring still to FIG. 4C and Table 2, in a first example: for two,three, four, or more gases introduced into the cartridge/canisterwhipped cream canister 130, and/or the profi 600, an optional andpreferred concentration of each gas is greater that the concentration ofeach respective gas in the atmosphere at 200 psi or 13.6 atm ofpressure, as listed in column 4 of Table 2.

Example II

Referring again to FIG. 4B, in a second example, for two gasesintroduced into the cartridge/canister whipped cream canister 130,and/or the profi 600, optionally and preferably, the first gas isnitrous oxide and the second gas is air or the first gas is nitrousoxide and the second gas is selected from column 1 of Table 2.

Example III

Referring again to FIG. 4C, in a third example, three, four, or moregases are introduced into the cartridge/canister whipped cream canister130, and/or the profi 600, where optionally and preferably the first gasis nitrous oxide, the second gas is selected from column 1 of Table 2,and the third gas is selected from column 1 of Table 2.

Example IV

Referring again to FIG. 4C, in a fourth example, for three, four, ormore gases introduced into the cartridge/canister whipped cream canister130, and/or the profi 600, optionally and preferably the first gas isnitrous oxide, the second gas is selected from column 1 of Table 2, andthe third gas is air.

Example V

Referring again to FIG. 4C, in a fifth example, for four or more gasesintroduced into the cartridge/canister whipped cream canister 130,and/or the profi 600, optionally and preferably, the first gas isnitrous oxide, the second gas is selected from column 1 of Table 2, thethird gas is selected from column 1 of Table 2, and the fourth gas isair.

Proper/Improper Use of Canister/Cartridge

Referring now to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, the whipped cream canister 300 isillustrated in a proper whipped cream dispensing orientation and animproper huffing orientation, respectively. In both the dispensingorientation and the huffing orientation, the liquid volume 340 is pulledby gravity, z-axis, downward and the lower density gas volume 330 risesabove the lower liquid volume. Thus, referring now to FIG. 5A, when thewhipped cream canister 300 is orientated in the dispensing orientationand the can is activated, opened to atmosphere via the applicator tip322, whipped cream 262 is dispensed via the dispensing port immersed inthe liquid volume 340. Further, referring now to FIG. 5B, when thewhipped cream canister 300 is orientated in a huffing orientation, wherethe dispensing port is immersed in the air volume 330, the less densegas volume 330 is dispensed. As illustrated, in the huffing orientation,the nitrous oxide is dissolved into the cream in the liquid volume 340and the gas volume 330 is dominated by the non-soluble gas, argon 354.More generally, the gas volume 340 contains any one, two, three, or moreof nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, neon, helium, krypton,hydrogen, methane, xenon, atmosphere, and a noble gas, while the highinducing nitrous oxide remains dominantly dissolved in the cream 225and/or is in the liquid volume, such as more than 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or95 percent of the nitrous oxide, by mass. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustratethe gas volume 330 rising above the liquid volume 340; the same logic ofdispensing whipped cream in the inverted dispensing orientation anddispensing non-high inducing gases in the upright huffing orientation isapplied to the high pressure containment housing 610 or the profi 600.

Profi

Referring now to FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 7 , the profi 600 is furtherdescribed. Generally, as described, supra, the profi 600 includes a highpressure containment housing 610 that is pressurized using a replaceablyattached pressure cartridge 700, such as attached by an end user. Duringuse, cream 225 in the liquid volume 340 of the high pressure containmenthousing 610 is dispensed when the profi 600 is held in an inverteddispensing orientation and the high pressure containment housing 610 istemporarily opened to a lower pressure, such as atmospheric pressure,such as via the dispensing port.

Referring now to FIG. 6A, the pressure containment elements of the profi600 are further described. Generally, the high pressure containmenthousing 610 of the profi 600 contains the liquid volume 340, such as thecream 225 and dissolved nitrous oxide as described above, and the gasvolume 330, such as the less soluble gases of argon, nitrogen, and thelike as described above. Before pressurization, the liquid contents ofthe profi are added, such as the cream 225 and any optional additive asfurther described, infra. As illustrated, the high pressure containmenthousing 610 is attached to a lid 620, such as a removable lid attachedas a thread on lid. Optionally, the lid is hingedly attached to the highpressure containment housing. Generally, the high pressure containmenthousing 610 contains any sealable/resealable opening for adding thecontents, such as the cream 225.

Still referring to FIG. 6A and referring again to FIG. 7 , thepressurization elements of the profi 600 are further described.Generally, the pressure cartridge 700 is attached to the profi 600 andthe higher pressure in the pressure cartridge 700 is equalized with thelower pressure in the now sealed profi 600, lid 620 sealed to highpressure containment housing 610. As illustrated, the pressure cartridge700 is attached to a receiving port 630, which opens the contents of thepressure cartridge 700 to an interior volume of the profi 600. Thesealing port 620 is optionally attached with a lock and key interface,such as a physical key shape of an end of the pressure cartridge 600inserts into a lock element of the receiving port 630 or vise-versa.Similarly, an end or element of the pressure cartridge 600 screws intothe receiving port 630 of the profi 600. Similarly, a slip connectionand/or a regulator are optionally used as part of the receiving port.Generally, any attachment, physical interface, and/or accessory used todeliver gas(es) from the pressure cartridge 700 to the profi 600 is usedas the receiving port 630. As illustrated, a valve 740 couples thereceiving port 620 to the pressure cartridge 700. The valve 740 isoptionally and preferably a pneumatic style valve, such as a Schradervalve. The valve 740 is optionally a one-way valve, which prevents flowof the cream 225 from the profi 600 into the pressure cartridge 700,which eases the process of repressurizing the cartridge 270 for reuse.The valve 740 is optionally affixed to the receiving port 620 and thepressure cartridge 700 is brought into contact with the valve 740 in theprocess of pressurizing the profi 250. Optionally and preferably, thepressure cartridge 700 is detached from the profi 600 in a step prior tothe step of dispensing the whipped cream 260.

Still referring to FIG. 6A, the pressure cartridge 700 is optionallyconnected to a side or a bottom of the profi 600, which allows a gas ormultiple gases from the headspace above a liquid in the pressurecartridge 700 to pass into the profi 600 without the liquid from thepressure cartridge 700 passing into the profi 600. For instance, nitrousoxide gas above a nitrous oxide liquid in the pressure cartridge 700 ispassed into the profile, such as through a pressure charging port/valve.

Still referring to FIG. 6A, the dispensing elements of the profi 600 arefurther described. Generally, the profi includes a product dispensingport 660 and a trigger 650 for alternatingly opening and closing thedispensing port 660. As illustrated, the trigger 650 is a squeezablehandle that when pulled on by the fingers of a hand grasping a handheldversion of the profi 600 opens a dispensing valve in the dispensing portand by relaxing pressure on the handle, the dispensing valve is shut.When the dispensing valve is opened, the cream 225 and at least thenitrous oxide 352 are dispensed, where the nitrous oxide 352 introducedinto the lower pressure of normal atmospheric pressure expands to formthe whipped cream 262. Generally, the dispensing elements of the profi600 include any trigger, button, and/or mechanical mechanism opening apath through the dispensing port 660 to allow passage of one or morecontents in the profi 600 to a volume outside of the profi 600.

Optionally, the receiving port 620 is integrated into the dispensingport 660 where the pressure cartridge 700 is used to pressurize/chargethe profi 600, the pressure cartridge is removed after a first seal isclosed and the first seal and/or a second seal ismechanically/electromechanically opened, such as triggered by a buttonor lever, resultant in at least one content of the profi 600 beingreleased through the first and/or second seal to an environment outsideof the profi 600.

Referring again to FIG. 6B, the profi 600 is illustrated with a firstreceiving port 630 and a second receiving port 640, where the first andsecond receiving ports 630, 640 respectively attach to a first andsecond pressure cartridge 701, 702. Referring still to FIG. 6B andreferring again to FIG. 6A, optionally and preferably the first pressurecartridge 701 is used to pressurize the profi 600 through the firstreceiving port 630 and, after detaching the first pressure cartridge 701from the first receiving port 630, the second pressure cartridge 702 isused to further pressurize the profi through the first receiving port630. Generally, the profi 600 contains any number m and n of receivingports 630 and dispensing ports 660, respectively, where m and n arepositive integers of 1, 2, 3, or more. Optionally and preferably thereceiving port 630 is specified for pressures of 200, 300, 750, 1000,2000, 3000, or more psi and the dispensing port operates at pressures upto 150, 175, or 200 psi. Optionally, any number of pressure cartridges700 are sequentially used to pressurize the profi 600, such as for asingle batch of cream 225, as further described infra.

Mixed Pressure Cartridges

Still referring to FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 7 , pressurizing the profi600 with 1, 2, 3, or more mixed gas pressure cartridges and/or 1, 2, 3,or more single gas profi cartridges is described. Generally, if it isdesired to pressurize the profi 600 with two or more gases, then the twoor more gases are optionally provided in a single pressure cartridge ora first gas is introduced into the profi 600 via a first pressurecartridge 701 and a second gas is introduced into the profi 600 via asecond pressure cartridge 702, either sequentially, such as via a singlereceiving port or in parallel via two receiving ports. Examples are usedto describe the process of pressurizing the profi 250.

Example I

In a first example, it is desired to charge the profi 600 with twogases, such as nitrous oxide and nitrogen at a desired ratio. In a firstcase, the profi 600 is charged with a pressure cartridge 700 containingthe desired ratio, as measured by partial pressures, moles, and/or mass,of nitrous oxide and nitrogen. In a second case, the profi 600 ispressurized through sequential attachment of a first pressure canister701, such as filled with one of nitrous oxide or nitrogen, andattachment of a second pressure canister 702, such as the remainingelement of nitrous oxide and nitrogen not in the first pressurecontainer 701. In the second case, the desired ratio of the nitrousoxide and nitrogen is obtained by partial pressures, moles, and/or massand/or through use of a first pressure in the first pressure container701 and a second pressure in the second container differing from thefirst pressure by at least 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 15 percent. In athird case, the profi 600 is charged in parallel with a first pressurecontainer 701 containing a first gas, such as nitrous oxide, connectedto the first receiving port 630 and a second pressure container 701containing the second gas, such as nitrogen, connected to the secondreceiving port. In the second and third cases, standardchemistry/physics equations relating pressure and concentration tovolume are used to obtain the desired ratio/concentration/content ofnitrous oxide and nitrogen, as measured by mass, percent volume, moles,and/or partial pressure. Naturally, any two gases are substituted fornitrous oxide and nitrogen in this example. Further, extension of thisexample allows pressurization of the profi 600 with 3, 4, 5 or moregases and/or air through 1 or more pressurization ports. In thedescribed manner, the amount of each of a first gas, a second gas, athird gas, . . . , and/or an n^(th) gas at time of pressurization isadjustable from 0 to 100 percent of the introduced gas, such as greaterthan 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 70, 80,or 90 percent of a given gas and less than 100, 99, 98, 97, 96, 95, 90,80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, or 10 percent of the given gas, such as anygas listed in Table 2.

Pressure Cartridge with Liquid Phase

Referring again to FIG. 7 and referring now to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 , apressure cartridge 700 containing a liquid form of one or more gases isdescribed. For clarity of presentation and without loss of generality,nitrous oxide is used in examples of a pressure cartridge containing atleast a liquid form of an atom or molecule that is a gas at standardtemperature, 25° C., and pressure, 1 atm, though any one or more gasesare optionally present in the pressure cartridge 700 in the form of agas and/or a liquid. Referring now to FIG. 8 , at pressures exceeding750 psi, nitrous oxide is present as a liquid, while argon is still in agas form from at least 750 to 1000 psi.

Referring still to FIG. 7 , nitrous oxide 352 and argon 354 are in thepressurized cartridge 700. Further, as illustrated, the pressure in thepressurized cartridge has forced the nitrous oxide 352 to be at least ina liquid phase, such as in a liquid fraction 730 inside the pressurizedcontainer, and to optionally be in a gas phase, in a headspace gasfraction 720 inside the pressurized cartridge 700.

Referring now to FIG. 9 , a nitrous oxide phase diagram 900 ispresented. Notably, nitrous oxide transitions from a nitrous oxide gasphase 910 to a nitrous oxide liquid phase 920 at a pressure exceeding750 psi at room temperature and is in a nitrous oxide supercriticalphase 930 above 1000 psi, FIG. 9 .

The pressure cartridge 700 is optionally maintained at a temperature andpressure where the nitrous oxide is in the form of a solid, liquid, or asupercritical fluid. When two or more gases are present in the pressurecartridge, the temperature and pressure are optionally set where each ofthe two or more gases are in a solid, liquid, or supercritical phase.

For the terms “for example” and “such as” and grammatical equivalencesthereof, the phrase “and without limitation” is understood to followunless explicitly stated otherwise. As used herein, the term “about” ismeant to account for variations due to experimental error. Allmeasurements reported herein are understood to optionally be modified bythe term “about”, whether or not the term is explicitly used, unlessexplicitly stated otherwise. As used herein, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise.

The clause “Atmospheric pressure” as used herein refers to ambientpressure of about 1 atmosphere (atm), or about 1 bar at sea level.

The clause “Room temperature” as used herein is about 25° C.

All percentages (%) are by weight unless indicated otherwise in aspecific circumstance.

Optionally, any element of the container, such as a body of thecontainer is printed using three-dimensional metal printing technology,such as in an additive manufacturing process.

Herein, a set of fixed numbers, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, or 20optionally means at least any number in the set of fixed number and/orless than any number in the set of fixed numbers.

In still yet another embodiment, the invention comprises any combinationand/or permutation of any of the elements described herein.

The particular implementations shown and described are illustrative ofthe invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limitthe scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake ofbrevity, conventional manufacturing, connection, preparation, and otherfunctional aspects of the system may not be described in detail. Whilesingle PWM frequency, single voltage, single power modules, in differingorientations and configurations have been discussed, adaptations andmultiple frequencies, voltages, and modules may be implemented inaccordance with various aspects of the present invention. Furthermore,the connecting lines shown in the various figures are intended torepresent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical couplingsbetween the various elements. Many alternative or additional functionalrelationships or physical connections may be present in a practicalsystem.

In the foregoing description, the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments; however, it will beappreciated that various modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as set forth herein.The description and figures are to be regarded in an illustrativemanner, rather than a restrictive one and all such modifications areintended to be included within the scope of the present invention.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by thegeneric embodiments described herein and their legal equivalents ratherthan by merely the specific examples described above. For example, thesteps recited in any method or process embodiment may be executed in anyorder and are not limited to the explicit order presented in thespecific examples. Additionally, the components and/or elements recitedin any apparatus embodiment may be assembled or otherwise operationallyconfigured in a variety of permutations to produce substantially thesame result as the present invention and are accordingly not limited tothe specific configuration recited in the specific examples.

Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been describedabove with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit,advantage, solution to problems or any element that may cause anyparticular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required or essentialfeatures or components.

As used herein, the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any variationthereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such thata process, method, article, composition or apparatus that comprises alist of elements does not include only those elements recited, but mayalso include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to suchprocess, method, article, composition or apparatus. Other combinationsand/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements,applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in thepractice of the present invention, in addition to those not specificallyrecited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specificenvironments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or otheroperating requirements without departing from the general principles ofthe same.

Although the invention has been described herein with reference tocertain preferred embodiments, one skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that other applications may be substituted for those setforth herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the invention should only be limited by theClaims included below.

1. A method for a user dispensing a whipped topping, comprising thesteps of: filling a refillable container with cream, said refillablecontainer comprising: a pressure containment housing, a first receivingport integrated into said pressure containment housing, and a dispensingport integrated into said pressure containment housing, said step offilling further comprising a step of: coupling, by the user, a pressuregas delivery port of a first pressure cartridge to said first receivingport of said refillable container, said first pressure cartridgecontaining at least nitrous oxide at a pressure exceeding two hundredfifty psi, wherein said step of coupling further comprises the step of:forming a connection between said first receiving port and said pressuregas delivery port, said connection, at least temporarily, forming apressure tight connection with an open path therethrough between saidpressure containment housing and said pressure cartridge; andpressurizing said pressure containment housing with a gas mixturecomprising nitrous oxide and least two noble gases, said gas mixtureoriginally housed in said pressure cartridge, wherein a concentration ofeach of said at least two noble gases in said pressure cartridge exceedstwo hundred fifty parts per million.